The Best Revenge It Wasn't Even Your Child novel Chapter 605

The desk phone remained completely silent. The receptionist nervously studied Catherine's expression. "Are you absolutely sure he's letting you up?"

"Let's just give it a minute." Catherine wasn't so confident anymore.

After another agonizing few minutes, the private executive elevator dinged open. Lance strode out, making a beeline directly for Catherine.

"What brings you here?" A faint smirk touched his lips when he spotted the lunchbox she was holding.

"Susan told me to bring this to you."

She thrust the container into his hands.

Lance took it smoothly. "Let's go upstairs."

"I'm not going up." Catherine tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll just head back."

The smirk vanished from Lance's lips, replaced by a subtle frown.

"I haven't eaten yet, I'm heading home to eat," she added quickly.

In reality, Catherine had already eaten.

"We're eating together." Lance leaned in, gripping her wrist and dragging her toward the elevator before she could even process the demand.

A sharp gasp echoed through the lobby.

The receptionist stood behind her desk in absolute shock.

Once inside the elevator, Catherine yanked her hand free and immediately retreated to the far corner, putting as much distance between her and Lance as possible.

The doors slid open, and they stepped out one after the other.

Aaron was waiting by the adjacent elevator and glanced their way. "Catherine?"

"Aaron," Catherine acknowledged with a slight nod.

"I was just heading to lunch. Catch up later." Aaron had wanted to chat, but he abruptly noticed the stormy expression brewing on Lance's face.

Offering an awkward smile, he practically threw himself into the open elevator.

Catherine peered into the conference room as they passed. It was completely empty.

She followed Lance into his private office. On the coffee table in the lounge area sat two cups of tea and an unlit cigarette tossed haphazardly into an ashtray.

It wasn't Lance's usual brand, and besides, Lance had quit smoking ages ago.

Lance sat down, unpacking the containers and arranging the food on the table.

Catherine said, taking a seat. She would be completely understanding if Lance made a purely corporate decision to work with him.

"You already know I rejected him because of you," Lance stated.

Catherine’s heart hammered a frantic, uneven rhythm against her chest, leaving her breathless.

Meeting his intense, pitch-black gaze, she felt a sudden, profound discomfort, as if he could see straight into the deepest corners of her soul.

"I'm just saying you didn't have to."

"Just eat. Once you're full, we'll go home together." Lance handed her a fork and scooped generous servings of her favorite dishes onto her plate.

There was nothing technically wrong with what he said, but it felt incredibly strange.

*We'll go home together.*

Catherine gripped her fork, just poking at her food without taking a single bite.

Lance rapped his knuckles on the table, the sharp sound bringing her back to the present.

"Thank you for last night,"

Catherine blurted out quickly. "But how did you know exactly what to do?"